IPM Booklet For of-Dr.P.D

Pest and Disease Management: Organic Ecosystem

Pest and Disease Management in Organic Ecosystem
General
Immense commercialisation of agriculture has had a very negative
effect on the environment. The use of pesticides has led to enormous levels
of chemical buildup in our environment, in soil, water, air, in animals and
even in our own bodies. Fertilisers have a short-term effect on productivity
but a longer-term negative effect on the environment where they remain for
years after leaching and running off, contaminating ground water and water
bodies. The use of hybrid seeds and the practice of monoculture has led to a
severe threat to local and indigenous varieties, whose germplasm can be lost
for ever. All this for "productivity".
In the name of growing more to feed the earth, it has taken the
wrong road of unsustainability. The effects show - farmers committing suicide
in growing numbers with every passing year; the horrendous effects of
pesticide sprays, pesticide contaminated bottled water and aerated
beverages are only some instances. The bigger picture that rarely makes
news however is that millions of people are still underfed, and where they do
get enough to eat, the food they eat has the capability to eventually kill them.
Another negative effect of this trend has been on the fortunes of the
farming communities worldwide. Despite this so-called increased productivity,
farmers in practically every country around the world have seen a downturn
in their fortunes. This is where organic farming comes in. Organic farming has
the capability to take care of each of these problems. Besides the obvious
immediate and positive effects organic or natural farming has on the
environment and quality of food, it also greatly helps a farmer to become self-
sufficient in his requirements for agro-inputs and reduce his costs.
Modern farming affects our world, by the way of land exhaustion,
nitrate run off, soil erosion, soil compaction, loss of cultivated biodiversity,
habitat destruction, contaminated food and destruction of traditional
knowledge systems and traditions. Thus to overcome the ill effects of modern
agriculture, can be delineated by adopting organic farming.
Concepts of Organic Farming
Ecological
Organic Agriculture
Social Economic
Social justice and Viability, local

participation resources
Balances social, economic and ecological

issues
Biologically feasible, ecologically stable,
economically viable & socially acceptable
Principles of Organic Farming
Health
Principles of
Organic Farming
Care Ecology
Fairness
Modules in Organic Pest and Disease Management
Pheromone traps
Altered date of
sowing Predators
Resistant varieties
Botanicals Light trap
Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of

ecology and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on
naturally occurring biological processes. Organic farming methods are studied
in the field of agroecology. While conventional agriculture uses synthetic
pesticides and water-soluble synthetically purified fertilizers, organic farmers
are restricted by regulations to using natural pesticides and fertilizers. The
principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manures
and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. These
measures use the natural environment to enhance agricultural productivity:
legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the soil, natural insect predators are
encouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil, and natural
materials such as potassium bicarbonate and mulches are used to control
disease and weeds. Organic farmers are careful in their selection of plant
breeds, and organic researchers produce hardier plants through plant
breeding rather than genetic engineering.
In intensive farming systems, organic agriculture decreases yield;
the range depends on the intensity of external input used before conversion.
In the green revolution areas (irrigated lands and well endowed water
regions), conversion to organic agriculture usually leads to almost identical
yields. In traditional rain fed agriculture (with low external inputs), organic
agriculture has shown the potentials to increase yields. A number of studies
have shown that under drought conditions, crops in organic agriculture
systems produce significantly and sustainably higher yields than comparable
conventional agricultural crops, often out-yielding conventional crops by 7 -
90 per cent. Others have shown that organic systems have less long-term
yield variability.
Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint body of FAO/WHO defines
“organic agriculture as holistic food production management systems, which
promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity,
biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of
management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into
account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is
accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological and mechanical
methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfil any specific
function within the system”.
Global View
The popularity of organic farming is gradually increasing and now
organic agriculture is practiced in almost all countries of the world, and its
share of agricultural land and farms is growing. As per a recent report of
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) the total
organically managed area is more than 24 million hectares world-wide.
Organic farming is practiced in approximately 130 countries of the world and
the area under organic management is continually growing. Although
production of organic crops is increasing across the globe, sales are
concentrated in the industrialized parts of the world.
In addition, the area of certified wild harvested plants is at least a
further 10.7 million hectares, according to various certification bodies. The
market for organic products is growing, not only in Europe and North America
but also in many other countries. The global market for organic food has
touched US$ 29 to 31 billions by 2005. The demand for organic food is
steadily increasing both in developed and developing countries, with annual
average growth rate of 20-25%.
Indian Status
Only 35% of India’s total cultivable area is covered with fertilizers
where irrigation facilities are available and in the remaining 65% of arable
land, which is mainly rain-fed, negligible amount of fertilizers are being used.
Farmers in these areas often use organic manure as a source of nutrients that
are readily available either in their own farm or in their locality. The north-
eastern region of India provides considerable scope and opportunity for
organic farming due to least utilization of chemical inputs. It is estimated that
18 million hectare of such land is available in the North-East, which can be
exploited for organic production. With the sizable acreage under naturally
organic/default organic cultivation, India has tremendous potential to grow
crops organically and emerge as a major supplier of organic products in the
world organic market.
The report of the Task Force on Organic Farming appointed by the
Government of India also observed that in vast areas of the country, where
limited amount of chemicals are used; productivity, could be exploited as
potential areas for organic agriculture. Arresting the decline of soil organic
matter is the most potent weapon in fighting against unabated soil
degradation and imperilled sustainability of agriculture in tropical regions of
India, particularly those under the influence of arid, semiarid and sub-humid
climate. Application of organic manure is the only option to improve the soil
organic carbon for sustenance of soil quality and future agricultural
productivity. Future of sustainable development of agriculture, next to water,
depends on arresting fall in organic matter in soils.
Benefits of Organic Farming
Organic farming is beneficial for both the humans and the nature.
Some of the known benefits of organic farming are:
 In organic farming, no fertilizers and pesticides are used, hence, no
harmful synthetic chemicals released into the environment.
 Organic farming improves productivity of land by healing it with
natural fertilizers.
 Organic farms provide support to the diverse ecosystem by
producing safe and healthy environment for humans, plants, insects
and animals as well.
 Organic farming is highly beneficial for soil health. Due to the
practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic
associations, cover crops and minimum tillage, the soil erosion is
decreased, which minimizes nutrient losses and boosts soil
productivity. The beneficial living organisms used in organic farming
also help to improve the soil health.
 It helps to promote sustainability by establishing an ecological
balance. If organic farming techniques are used for long time, the
farms tend to conserve energy and protect the environment by
maintaining ecological harmony.
 When calculated either per unit area or per unit of yield, organic
farms use less energy and produce less waste.
 Organic farming reduces groundwater pollution as no synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides are used in this method.
 Organic farming also helps to reduce the greenhouse effect and
global warming because it has the ability to impound carbon in the
soil.
 In organic farming method, same crop is not located in the farm,
which encourages the build-up of diseases and pests that plague
that particular crop.
The central activity of organic farming relies on fertilization, pest
and disease control. Organic farming relies heavily on the natural
breakdown of organic matter, using techniques like green manure and
composting, to replace nutrients taken from the soil by previous crops. This
biological process, driven by microorganisms such as mycorrhiza, allows the
natural production of nutrients in the soil throughout the growing season, and
has been referred to as feeding the soil to feed the plant.
Organic farming tends to tolerate some pest populations while taking
a longer-term approach. Organic pest and disease control involves the
cumulative effect of many techniques, including:
 allowing for an acceptable level of pest and disease damage;
 encouraging predatory beneficial insects to control pests;
 encouraging beneficial microorganisms and insects; this by serving
them nursery plants and/or an alternative habitat, usually in a form
of a shelterbelt, hedgerow, or beetle bank
 careful crop selection, choosing disease-resistant varieties
 planting companion crops that discourage or divert pests;
 using row covers to protect crops during pest migration periods;
 using pest regulating plants and biologic pesticides, fungicides and
herbicides
 using no-till farming, and no-till farming techniques as false
seedbeds
 rotating crops to different locations from year to year to interrupt
pest/disease reproduction cycles
 Using insect traps to monitor and control insect populations that
cause damage as well as transmit diseases.
Each of these techniques also provides other benefits viz., Soil
protection and improvement, fertilization, pollination, water conservation,
season extension, etc.and these benefits are both complementary and
cumulative in overall effect on farm health. Effective organic pest and disease
control requires a thorough understanding of pest life cycles and interactions.
Crop protection in organic agriculture is not a simple matter. It
depends on a thorough knowledge of the crops grown and their likely pests,
pathogens and weeds. Successful organic crop protection strategies also rely
on an understanding of the effects which local climate, topography, soils and
all aspects of the production system are likely to have on crop performance
and the possible host/pest complexes. Organic agriculture is rapidly
expanding and includes novel, edible, fibre and processing crops, diversified
rotations and large scale stockless farming companies alongside traditional
mixed organic farms. Many of the established strategies that have been
developed to prevent and control weeds, pests and diseases in traditional
organic systems have limited application in the more novel systems. Research
is therefore urgently required to optimize these strategies for use in novel
organic systems and necessary to develop new crop protection technologies,
where pest, disease or weed problems are limiting expansion of the industry.
Pests/diseases are generally not a significant problem in organic
systems, since healthy plants living in good soil with balanced nutrition are
better able to resist pest/disease attack. However, major pest/disease
damage is sometimes seen in organic crops, which are very susceptible to
damage. Pest/disease problems can be particularly severe in large holdings,
where several hectares of a single crop species may be grown. Pest/disease
control strategies in organic farming systems are mainly preventative rather
than curative. The balance and management of cropped and uncropped
areas, crop species and variety choice and the temporal and spatial pattern of
the crop rotations used all aim to maintain a diverse population of beneficial
organisms including competitors, parasites and predators of pests. Damaging
populations of pests and pathogens are less likely to establish in soils that
sustain high levels of beneficial organisms. Break crop choice and rotation
design can have a major impact on the incidence and severity of certain types
of pest problems. The less mobile pests or those which have a specific or
narrow host range are particularly susceptible to crop rotation. Highly mobile,
often non-specific pests such as aphids are less affected, or unaffected by
rotation design. Reactive treatments for pest outbreaks, including natural
pesticides, are permitted under regulations for specific situations in organic
systems, but cultural pest prevention techniques including the use of break
crops within balanced rotations will remain the most important means for pest
control in organic systems.
Managing Pests and Diseases
Managing the ecosystem on an organic farm is very challenging. It
is made even more complex when factoring in insect and disease pests. Since
the use of synthetic pesticides are prohibited, the organic cropping system
should be focused on the prevention of pest outbreaks rather than coping
with them after they occur. No single method is likely to be adequate for all
pests. Successful pest management depends on the incorporation of a
number of control strategies. Some strategies will target insect and disease
separately and others will target them together.
Pests in a crop do not automatically result in damage or yield loss. In
some instances, low levels of pest feeding have been shown to increase crop
yields. Once infestation levels reach a certain point, however, they can
produce economic losses. Thresholds vary with the crop and the pest in
question and must be closely monitored by the producer.
Planning for effective insect and disease management must involve
the entire farm operation and use all information available. Any strategy in
organic farming should include methods for:
 insect and disease avoidance
 managing the growth environment
 direct treatment
i. Avoidance Techniques
To manage pests and diseases effectively, producers need to
understand the biology and growth habits of both pest and crop. The type
and concentration of pests are often responses to previous crop history, pest
life cycles, soil conditions and local weather patterns.
Crop Rotations
Crop rotation is central to all sustainable farming systems. It is an
extremely effective way to minimize most pest problems while maintaining
and enhancing soil structure and fertility.
Diversity is the key to a successful crop rotation program. It involves:
 rotating early-seeded, late-seeded and fall-seeded crops
 rotating between various crop types, such as annual, winter annual,
perennial, grass and broadleaf crops; each of these plant groups has
specific rooting habits, competitive abilities, nutrient and moisture
requirements. (True diversity does not include different species
within the same family - for example, wheat, oats and barley are all
species of annual cereals.)
 incorporating green manure crops, into the soil to suppress pests,
disrupt their life cycles and to provide the additional benefits of fixing
nitrogen and improving soil properties
 managing the frequency with which a crop is grown within a rotation
 maintaining the rotation's diversified habitat, which provides
parasites and predators of pests with alternative sources of food,
shelter and breeding sites
 planting similar crop species as far apart as possible. Insects such as
wheat midge and Colorado potato beetle, for example, are drawn to
particular host crops and may overwinter in or near the previous
host crops. With large distances to move to get to the successive
crop, the insects' arrival may be delayed. The number that find the
crop may be reduced as well.
Diverse rotations are particularly effective in regulating flea beetles,
cabbage butterfly, wheat midge, wheat stem maggot and wheat stem sawfly.
Rotations are also effective in controlling soil- and stubble-borne
diseases. The success of rotations in preventing disease depends on many
factors, including the ability of a pathogen to survive without its host and the
pathogen's host range. Those with a wide range of hosts will be controlled
less successfully. For example, sclerotinia stem-rot is a common disease in
conventionally grown canola on the Prairies, but it can also infect at least a
halfdozen other field crops. Rotations will not have much effect on pathogens
that live indefinitely in the soil, but will shorten the life span of pathogens that
can survive only brief periods apart from their hosts. Other situations that
limit the benefit of crop rotations include: the transmission of pathogens via
seed, the presence of susceptible weeds and volunteer crops that harbour
pathogens, and the invasion of pathogens by wind and other means.
Rotations should be used with other cultural practices to achieve the
greatest benefit.
Field Sanitation/Crop Residue Management
Reducing or removing crop residues and alternate host sites can be
used to control some insects and many diseases. Incorporating the residue
into the soil hastens the destruction of disease pathogens by beneficial fungi
and bacteria. Burying diseased plant material in this manner also reduces the
movement of spores by wind.
Insects most affected by tillage will be those that overwinter in crop
residue (for example, European corn borer and wheat stem sawfly) and those
that lay their eggs in the residue. Conversely, fields where residue has not
been disturbed may have higher levels of some beneficial predaceous insects,
which may reduce levels of insect pests such as root maggots in canola.
Reduced or zero-tillage may also reduce the damage by certain pests, as the
crop residue creates a micro-climate less preferred by some insects (for
example, flea beetles).
It is important to maintain a balance between crop sanitation and
soil conservation. Lighter soils and those prone to wind and water erosion
may require postponing tillage until just before seeding to ensure stubble
cover for as long as possible.
Alternate host sites, such as field margins, fence lines, pastures,
shelterbelts and riparian areas, will usually contain weeds and natural
vegetation that may serve as reservoirs for disease, vectors of disease and
insect pests. Left uncontrolled, these insect and disease pests can be
transmitted to healthy crop plants. Insects may use these plants as alternate
habitat until an appropriate crop occurs in a nearby field. However, these
areas may also host many beneficial insects and predators, therefore the
grower must carefully assess the potential threat from pest insects in these
areas before mowing or removing any plants. The ecological importance of
areas such as sloughs, wooded bluffs, road allowances, railroad rights-of-way,
abandoned farmyards and schoolyards must also be included in long-range
planning.
Seed Quality
The use of high-quality seed is especially important in preventing
disease. The seed supply should be free of smut, ergot bodies or other
sclerotia, and free of kernels showing symptoms of Fusarium head blight
infection.
Seed analysis by a reputable seed testing laboratory will help
determine specific diseases in the seed supply.
Relatively few diseases are exclusively seed-borne, and it is more
common for pathogens to be transmitted from soil, stubble, or wind, as well
as with the seed.
Planting physically sound seed is also important. In crops such as
flax, rye and pulses, a crack in the seed coat may serve as an entry point for
soil-borne micro-organisms that rot the seed once it is planted.
Weed Management
Although weeds need to be controlled to reduce their impact on crop
yield and quality, a field completely free of weeds is not necessarily the best
objective. In many cases, weeds provide food and shelter for beneficial
insects. Parasitic wasps, for example, are attracted to certain weeds with
small flowers. Field experience has shown that the number of predators
attacking insects increases and the number of aphids and leafhoppers
decreases on certain crops as the diversity of weeds (that act as host plants)
increases. Research has shown that outbreaks of certain crop insect pests are
more likely in weed-free fields.
Insects that are generalist feeders, such as beet webworm, thistle
caterpillars and grasshoppers, may prefer to feed on weeds rather than some
crops, only damaging the crop after the weeds are eaten.
Each field situation should be considered separately, as weed
competition must always be taken into account. Sometimes mowing weeds at
the edge of the field results in beneficial organisms moving into the crop
where they are needed.
Forecasting
Producers should pay attention to the forecasts for various pest and
disease infestations for each crop year. Maps of these forecasts are usually
available for many of the major destructive insects such as grasshoppers and
wheat midge, as well as some diseases. Agro meteorological warning and
forecast can help in this way.
Record-Keeping
Keeping diligent field records can provide very useful information. A
complete history of each field should include any insect or disease
infestations, which management methods worked and which did not, and a
list of management techniques to try in the future.
ii. Managing the Growth Environment - Giving the Crop a Head Start
Any crop management technique that contributes to a vigorous,
competitive crop is a tool of insect and disease management. Producers must
also be mindful that many practices that work well in conventional systems
may not benefit organic systems. Certain crop species, crop varieties and
equipment may work well in one system but not in the other.
Healthy Soil
Maintaining favorable soil conditions is the first line of defense
against pests. A biologically active soil with good drainage supports vigorous
crop growth, allowing a higher level of crop competition with weeds.
Adequate, balanced soil nutrition is essential for crop quality, yield
and moisture-use efficiency. The application of nutrients should be based on a
sound soil testing program, accompanied by plant tissue analysis when
diagnosing problems. High levels of nitrogen can occur after a high-nitrogen
plowdown, such as sweet clover. This results in lush leaf tissue and a dense
plant canopy that provides an ideal environment for plant pathogens.
However, a lush crop may also help disperse the damage by a given number
of insects, so astute observations by the producer are necessary at all times.
In contrast, inadequate soil phosphorous can pre-dispose to certain
root diseases. Low levels of nitrogen can reduce the incidence of insect
outbreaks. A shortage of micronutrients such as zinc or copper can result in
disease-like symptoms on crops, while too much of any one micronutrient
may be toxic.
The addition of composted livestock manure improves soil quality,
including increasing the population of soil micro-organisms that compete with
soil-borne plant pathogens.
Field experience has also shown that plants fertilized by the slow
release of nutrients from compost are more resistant to insects and diseases
than crops fertilized by highly soluble nutrients. Soil testing becomes
important when applying compost regularly. An imbalance of nutrients can
easily occur if the soil's nutrient profile is not continuously monitored.
Crop and Variety Selection
Producer awareness of insects and diseases in the proximity of the
farm is very important and should influence the crop and the variety of crop
to be grown. These choices must also fit in with the crop rotation plan that
has been developed. Some insect pests are specific to certain crops, such as
wheat stem sawfly, while others, such as grasshoppers, will attack numerous
crops. The situation is similar with diseases.
The selection of insect- and disease-resistant cultivars can be a
useful tool, but under no circumstances can genetically modified varieties be
used in organic systems. Wheat varieties with solid stems are more resistant
to wheat stem sawfly than hollow-stemmed varieties. Wheat varieties with
resistance to wheat midge have been developed and should soon be
available. These insect-resistant varieties were developed through
conventional plant breeding programs. Certain species may avoid diseases
such as Fusarium head blight, but often agronomic factors, such as time of
seeding or choosing winter versus spring wheat, have more of an influence on
the incidence of disease.
Plants also vary in their degree of attractiveness to insects, diseases
and vectors transmitting disease. Factors such as leaf and stem toughness,
pubescence, nutrient content, plant architecture, growth habit and differences
in maturity between crops and varieties can influence pest growth,
reproduction and host preference. For example, earlier-maturing crop
varieties may be less attractive to migrating populations of grasshoppers late
in the season compared to later-maturing varieties.
Intercropping
The practice of intercropping (where two crops are grown at the
same time) can reduce pest problems by making it more difficult for the pests
to find a host crop. This technique also provides habitat for beneficial
organisms. Strip-cropping row crops with perennial legumes often leads to
better pest control. In particular, alfalfa attracts many beneficial organisms
that can destroy insect pests in neighbouring crops.
Seeding Date
Planting should be scheduled so that the most susceptible time of
plant growth does not correspond to the peak in pest cycles. Early seeding
reduces crop damage caused by grasshoppers, aphids in cereal crops, wheat
midge in spring wheat, barley yellow dwarf virus in barley and wheat,
powdery mildew in peas and pasmo in flax.
Delayed seeding can be effective in avoiding wireworms and
cutworms in cereal crops, Hessian fly in winter wheat, barley thrips,
Ascochyta in lentils and wheat streak mosaic virus in winter wheat. However,
experience on the Prairies has generally shown that delaying seeding too long
can reduce a crop's potential yield.
Seeding Rate
Using a higher seeding rate to affect insect or disease infestations
may have different results. More plants in a field may reduce the impact of a
given aphid population on individual plants, but they may create a more
favourable habitat for insects that prefer a dense canopy, such as true
armyworm. A dense leaf canopy can also create a moist soil surface and
elevated humidity within the crop, conditions favourable to certain leaf
disease pathogens.
Reducing the seeding rate may decrease the severity of take-all in
spring wheat, but the reduced canopy may also allow weeds to invade. In
other crops, reduced seeding may also produce more insect damage, as in
the case of aphids, flea beetles and leafhoppers, which are attracted to the
contrast between a green host and a dark soil background.
Depth and Timing of Seeding
Optimum seeding depth is also important. Deep seeding in cold soils
may result in seedling blights and damping-off, especially in pulses and small-
seeded crops. Seeding depth should generally be no deeper than required for
quick germination and even emergence. Variables include seed size, soil type
and moisture conditions. If the soil is loose before seeding, a packing
operation will firm up the soil and bring moisture closer to the surface.
For most crops, seeding should ideally be done when the soil is
warm enough for rapid germination. Seeds that remain ungerminated in cool
soil are more susceptible to damage by insects such as wireworms.
Trap Strips
Seeding trap strips around the edge of a cropped field or along a
fence row helps lure insect pests to a specific area where they can be
managed more easily. For example, planting bromegrass near a wheat field
attracts wheat stem sawflies and their native parasites away from the wheat
crop. Similarly, a trap strip of potatoes planted much earlier than the main
crop would attract Colorado potato beetles to the area. The strip could be
worked under along with the adult beetles, eggs and larvae before the second
generation of beetles spreads to the main crop.
Generally, the insect pests in the trap strips are controlled by
mowing or cultivating the strip, or by applying an acceptable organic product,
such as Bacillus thuringiensis. Trap strips can also act as a barrier to protect
the crop field. Producers have found that planting yellow sweet clover or
Sirius field peas repels grasshoppers and prevents them from damaging
crops. A thorough knowledge of the crop and insect pests of the area is
necessary to prevent this technique from backfiring.
Tillage
Tillage can be properly timed before seeding, after harvesting and
during summerfallow to reduce populations of insect pests such as cutworms
and grasshoppers that spend part of their life cycles in the soil or stubble.
Tillage can help starve insects in the spring or during fallow, prevent adults
from laying eggs in the soil and expose overwintering insects to predators and
inclement weather.
Roguing
Roguing refers to the labour-intensive practice of walking the fields
to remove diseased or insect-infested plants. Roguing may not be practical for
large fields, but could be suitable for seed plots or crops having highly
infectious and destructive diseases (for example, bacterial blackleg in
potatoes and certain viruses in other crops).
iii. Direct Treatment
At times, the organic producer will find that, despite all the best
efforts, an insect or disease pest will grow to levels that cause substantial
crop damage. At this point, direct treatment may be necessary.
Monitoring
Insect monitoring traps are useful in determining which insect pests
are present in a field and whether they are at economically important levels.
It is imperative that the producer has a positive identification of the insect or
disease causing damage before choosing a method of treatment.
Certain types of insect hormones called pheromones may be used as
attractants to monitor population levels of insects such as bertha armyworm,
diamondback moth, cabbage looper and European corn borer, or to simply
attract insects into a trap.
Biological Control
In a healthy, balanced ecosystem, biological control by natural
predators is constantly occurring. The more diverse a cropping system
becomes, the greater the spectrum of insect species and micro-organisms
within it. This leads to the development of more natural predators within the
ecosystem.
Ladybugs, ambush bugs, hoverfly larvae, lacewings, spiders, birds,
frogs, toads and a host of other insects are predators of aphids, bertha
armyworm larvae, sunflower beetles, beet webworms, and both grasshopper
eggs and adults. The destructive wheat midge may also be partially controlled
by a parasitic wasp, but crop damage may still occur.
Various types of fungi are insect parasites and can either kill their
insect hosts or reduce their ability to reproduce. Very few biological controls
are available to reduce the effects of plant diseases, as most commercial
products do not perform well if the disease is already established in the crop.
Mycoparasitism is a form of bio-control where one fungus parasitizes another.
Although this process occurs with many fungi under laboratory conditions, it
hasn't been successful under field conditions.
Natural Insecticides
Organic certification standards prohibit the use of synthetic
pesticides. Permitted disease-management products include copper (fixed
copper and copper sulphate), lime-sulphur mixes, elemental sulphur, vinegar,
soap and silica. Bordeaux mixture is considered a restricted substance, and
farmers should contact their certifying body before using it. Although these
products are allowed, it may not be cost-effective or feasible to apply them to
field crops. Scientific evidence on product efficacy should be researched
before using them.
The high risk of phytotoxicity should also be considered when using
these products on certain plants; often the margin of error between benefit
and damage to the plant is very small. In addition, there are environmental
and ecological concerns surrounding some of these products. Additional soil
tests may be required to monitor copper and sulphur levels in the soil. As
well, organic certification may be denied to farms that overuse or depend on
such products.
Insecticides permitted in organic agriculture include some microbial
insecticides containing the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. Three main strains
of these bacteria are used in insect control. One strain, marketed as Dipel or
Thuricide, kills only the larvae of moths or butterflies. Another strain,
marketed as Novodor, is for beetle larvae only and can be used to control
Colorado potato beetles. The third strain is specifically for mosquito and fly
larvae.
Botanical insecticides, such as rotenone, are also permitted in
organic agriculture, but they are often too expensive to use on large
acreages.
Other Control Methods
For pest control, beneficial organisms, dormant oil, diatomaceous
earth, plant-derived pesticides, soap, natural and synthetic insect pheromones
which disrupt the insect's development, and commercial insect vacuums can
be used.
Grain Storage
When stored grain is dry and its temperature is low, problems
seldom arise. But if the grain is warm and moist, insects and fungi can
multiply rapidly. A grain temperature of 5°C to 10°C is adequate for long-term
storage. Bin aeration helps dry and cool the grain. If bins are not equipped
with aeration systems, grain can be moved to cool it. Cold temperatures can
be used to control insects that exist in stored grain.
Before storing new grain, the bin should be thoroughly cleaned with
a grain vacuum. The empty bin can be treated with diatomaceous earth to
control stored-grain insects. Many organic producers have found it to be
effective when applied as a light coating on the floor of the bin, and around
the walls and the bin door. It can also be added to the grain as it is being
brought into storage.
Natural products for Pest Control
 Using various naturally occurring substances and products
Eg. Neem, pongamia, NPV, Trichograma, Trichoderma etc
Community Management
 Pest incidence depends not only on the crop a farmer grows and
practices he/she follows but also on the neighboring cropping
pattern and the practices adopted.
List of inputs permitted for crop protection
Permitted
S.
Input /
No.
Restricted
1. Mechanical traps, Neem oil and other preparations,
Propalis, Pheromones in traps, plant based repellants, Permitted
Silicates, Soft soap
2. Copper salts, Chloride of lime/soda, light mineral oils,
permanganate of potash, Sulphur, Viral, fungal and
Restricted
bacterial preparations, release of parasite and
predators of insect pests
All-round Herbal Pesticide
Herbal extracts should be used only as a final remedy only after
utilizing & practicing all the above said methods. One should try to use only
the locally available weeds or those that are grown as life fence for making
herbal extracts. If enough materials are not available in and around the
garden, then materials can be collected from other areas. To be self sufficient
it is better to develop the herbal plant resources by raising them as hedges
along the fence, in the waste areas like slopes, gullies, & rocky patches and
along the path.
Basic important procedures to be followed while preparing the herbal extracts
are:
 Macerate and grind the plant material to a pulp state. This is mainly
to expose the cells and facilitate the extraction of the active principle
with the help of water.
 Soak the pulped material in at least 70-80% of the final volume of
spray solution.
 Since the water has a limited dissolving capacity, with low volume
the extraction will not be full.
 Soak the pulped material only for 3-5 days. If it is allowed to ferment
for more number of days the active principles from the herbs that
are needed to kill the insects will disintegrate into simpler harmless
component.
 After 3 - 5 days of fermentation, the whole solution should be
filtered and the final spray volume should be made by adding the
balance water.
 The filtered final solution has to be sprayed in such a way that the
whole plant is fully drenched at least one or two times in a year.
 To avoid soaking for 3-4 days, soak it at least overnight and then
heat it to bearable warmth (60-70°C) for an hour by stirring. After
this dilute it to the required final volume of spray solution, filter,
allow cooling and spraying.
 Use at least 2-3 different materials at a time to prepare the herbal
extract.
 Change the combination of the materials every time.
 Use 2-3% of herbal extract (combination of 2-3 different materials)
while the pest attack is at early stage. Increase the dosage to 5-6%
if the attack is very severe.
 The first two sprays in a season should by a blanket spray, on
observing the attack.
Commonly available plants that can be used for making herbal extracts are as
follows
S.
Common Name Botanical Name Useful Plant Parts
No.
1. Neem Azadirachta indica Neem Cake
2. Pungam Pongamia glabra Leaf & flower
Pongamia pinnata
3. Notchi Vitex nugunda Leaf & flower
4. Nithia Kalyani Catharanus rosea Whole plant

5. Unni Lantana camera Leaf & flower
6. Devils Trumpet Datura metal Leaf, fruit, flower
7. Yellow Nelliam Nerium thevetifolia Flower, fruit, root
8. Aruku Calatropis gigantea Leaf, tender stem,
flower
9. Siria Nangai Andrographis Whole plant
paniculata
10. Parthenium Parthenium sp Plant before flowering
11. Adathoda Adathoda vasica Leaf
12. Tobacco Nicotiana tobaccum Dried leaf, plant
waste, stem waste
13. Chevanthi Crysanthemum Flower
cinerrifolia
14. Thumbai Lucus aspera Flower, leaf, tender
stem
15. Tobacco Plant Lobilia sp Whole plant
(weed)
16. Ginger Zingiber officinale Rhizome
17. Etti Strychnos nuvomica Seeds
18. Turmeric Curcuma longa Rhizome
19. Artemesia Artemesia vulgaris Tender shoots &
leaves
Companion planting to repel fungal disease
 Amorphophallus plants between rows of arecanut trees have anti-
fungal qualities.
General purpose insecticide
 Crush the nuts of the casaraka tree (Nuxvomica) and add to coconut
milk.
 The combination becomes lethal and appropriate concentrations can
be sprayed on different insect pests.
To treat paddy leaf curl
 Steep one kilo of agave leaves in 10 litres of boiling water in a
copper container and allow to stand for 24 hours.
 Spray the extract on the crop.
To tackle Rhinoceros beetle in coconut plantation:
 Arrange two to three tubelights in various spots in the plantation so
that the beetles are drawn to the light instead of to the coconut
trees during the night!
 However, in the long run this could be harmful since many predators
are also attracted to the light!
 Neem oil is mixed with honey in equal proportions and sprayed on
the apical part of the tree.
Liquid extracts for disease management
Disease Type of compost

Late blight of potato ,tomato Horse compost extract
Gray mold on beans strawberries Cattle compost extract
Downy and powdery mildew of Animal manure-straw compost
grapes extract
Powdery mildew on cucumbers Animal manure-straw compost
extract
Gray mold on tomato, pepper Cattle and chicken manure compost
extract
Apple scab Spent mushroom compost extract
Biological agents to control pests of different crops
S.
Biological Agents Pest Crop
No.
1. Trichogramma brassiliensis - Lepidopteran, Cotton, Tomato
1.0 Heliothis sp
cc/ac. once in 10 days,
(Egg parasitoid)
2. Trichogramma chilonis - 2 cc/ac Borers Sugarcane,
once in 15 days paddy,
pulses,
Vegetables
3. Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Spodoptera sp & Vegetables
(NPV) Heliothis sp
100-200 LE/ac
4. Chrysoperla Sp Prudenia, Vegetables
5000 - 10000 eggs /ha, 3 - 4 Caterpillars,
times White
in 15 days, (Green lace wing) flies, thrips,
aphids
5. Beauveria bassiana - 1.0% Helicoperva, Vegetables,
Affects the young stage, spodoptera, cereals,
borers, fruits
hairy caterpillars,
mites, scales, etc
6. Metarhizium anisopliae White grubs, Sugarcane,
- 0.5 - 1.0 % Beetle grubs, groundnut, rice,
affects all stages caterpillars, potato, cotton,
Semiloopers, cereals
mealy bugs, BPH
7. Verticillium lecanii - 0.5 - 1.0 All sucking soft Sugarcane,
%, bodies insects groundnut, rice,
affects all stages potato, cotton,
cereals
8. Phascilomycetes Nematodes All crops
9. Bacillus thuringiensis var Helicoperva, Vegetables,
kustaki spodoptera, cereals,
0.3 - 0.4 % borers, fruits
hairy caterpillars,
mites, scales, etc
10. NPV - Nuclear Polyhedrosis Spodotera litura Cotton,
Virus groundnut,
of Spodotera litura 250 - 500 pulses, cabbage,
ml/ ha 2 - 3 time at 10 days chillies
interval
11. NPV - Nuclear Polyhedrosis Helicoverpa Cotton,
Virus armigera groundnut,
of Helicoverpa armigera 250 pulses, cabbage,
500 chillies
ml/ ha, 2 - 3
time at 10 days interval
Biopesticides and IPM products for various crops
Crop Pest/Diseases Biopesticides
Cotton Bollworms Traps, lures, BT, NPV,
Trichogramma
Whitefly, jassids, thrips Neem 1500 ppm
Mites Chrysoperla, verticillium,
Baeuveria
Wilts and leaf spots Trichoderma, Pseudomonas
Rice Yellow stem borer, leaf folder Traps, lures, BT, Trichogramma
Hoppers Neem 1500 ppm, Baeuveria
Sheath blight and leaf spots
Pulses Bollworms or cutworms Traps, lures, BT, NPV,
Trichogramma
Wilts Trichoderma, Pseudomonas
Tomato, Heliothis Traps, lures, BT, NPV,
capsicum Trichogramma
Mites Trichoderma, Pseudomonas
Brinjal, Fruit borer Traps, lures, BT, NPV,
okra Trichogramma
Mites Neem 1500 ppm, verticillium
Pest/Disease Management Packages for Different Crops
Integrated Pest Management package for Organic Rice Ecosystem
Rice is essentially a crop of warm, humid environments conducive to
the survival and Proliferation of insects. More than 70 species were recorded
as pests of rice and about 20 have major significance. Together, they infest
all parts of the plant at all growth stages. The insects act as vectors of virus
diseases, and are a major factor responsible for low rice yields particularly in
Tropical Asia, the world’s rice bowl. The insect problem is accentuated in multi
cropping or dormancy but occurs throughout the year in over lapping
generations. The yield losses vary from 20 to 50 per cent due to the damage
caused by various insect Pests.
Mechanical control methods
 Collection and destruction of rice stubbles from field after harvest as
they harbour egg, larvae, pupae of stem borer, gall midge, white tip
nematode and root knot nematodes.
 Clipping the tips of the seedlings up to 2 inches prior to transplanting
to remove the egg masses of stem borer if any.
 Collection of egg masses of stem borer and silver shoots from the
nursery seedlings.
 Flooding the nursery to make the hiding larvae in the soil to come to
the surface and thus they are picked by the birds (army worm)
 A rope may be passed over the young crop for dislodging the larval
cases from the tillers and then the water should be drained for
eliminating them (case worm).
 Providing bird perches of 2-3 ft height in vegetative stage @ 15-20 /
acre. They should be removed after seed setting to avoid the bird
damage to seeds. Drinking pots with water should be provided
around the perches.
 Collection and destruction of egg masses of stem borer and ear head
bugs in main field.
 A thorny hedge may be passed over the crop when it is affected by
leaf folder to unfold the leaf folds and to expose the larvae within to
natural enemies and botanical sprays.
Cultural control methods
 Avoid close planting especially in BPH and leaf folder prone areas or
seasons.
 For every 5-6 m leave a spacing of 75 cm (hoppers).
 Grow horse gram, green gram, soy bean on bunds to attract natural
enemies.
 Controlled irrigation by intermittent draining (BPH).
 Remove the weeds on bunds that harbour BPH, gall midge, GLH, leaf
folder, ear head bug.
Biological control methods
 The crop should be observed from 20 DAT and when stem borer
eggs are observed on leaf tips and leaf folder eggs on veins, release
Trichogramma chilonis (for leaf folder) and T. japonicum (for stem
borer) thrice @ 1,00,000/ha each and spray Bacillus thuringiensis @
1.0 kg/ha when the stem borer / leaf folder crosses ETL.
 Release Platygaster oryzae parasitized galls @ 1 per 10 m2 on 10
days after transplanting (DAT) (gall midge).
Botanical control methods
 Spray neem seed kernel extract, neem oil, pungam oil (5%) on need
base at 15 days interval. Teepol or soap solution should be mixed at
2 ml / litre (general).
 Apply Acorus calamus killikulam dust @ 10 kg / ac (ear head bug).
Behavioural control methods

 Install pheromone traps @ 8 / acre (stem borer and leaf folder)
 Installation of light traps with incandescent light at 1-2 m height @ 4
/ acre to monitor the population (stem borer, leaf folder, BPH, gall
midge and ear head bugs). At the base of light trap put a tub filled
with water to which kerosene was added to kill the trapped insects.
Rat management
 Collection and destruction of weeds and maintenance of field
sanitation.
 Reduce the width of bunds and close the rat burrows.
 Use different types of rat traps alternatively to trap the rats.
Insects of different stages in rice
Vegetative Phase
Crop stage Possible pests
Seedling Rice whorl maggot; Thrip; Defoliator; Stem
borer; Green leaf hopper; Plant hopper
Tillering Thirp; Defoliator, Stemborer; Green leaf
hopper; plant hopper
Minor pests (vegetative Aphids, caseworm, black bugs, grasshoppers,
phase) mealy bugs
Reproductive stage
Crop stage Possible pests
Stem elongation Defoliator; Stem borer; Greenleaf
hopper; Plant hopper
Panicle initiation to booting Stem borer; Green leaf hopper; Plant
hopper
Heading Plant hopper
Flowering Plant hopper; Thrips
Minor pests (reproductive phase) Greenhorned caterpillars, skippers
Mature grain stage
Dough grain stage Plant hopper; Rice bug
Mature grain
Minor pests (reproductive phase) Panicle mite
Diseases in rice
Factors
Important Important
Disease Symptoms favoring
Stages Season
infection
Blast All growth Leaf lesions- Mostly wet High N
stages Grey Centers cloudy skies levels, High
large in the Frequent relative
middle tapering rain and humidity
to ends Also drizzle
attacks nodes
on stem
Panicle attack
(neck rot) can
be confused
with stem
border damage
Sheath Blight Tillering Leaf sheath - Periodic High
Grayish green temperature
lesions and humidity
between the High levels of
water and the N
leaf blade
Bacterial Tillering to Leaf lesions run Wet High
Leaf Blight heading along the temperature
length of the and humidity
leaf
Sheath Rot Boot leaf Small water Periodic High
soaked lesions temperature
on leaves and humidity
Brown Spot Flowering Brown round to Periodic 25-30
to maturity oval spots on degrees
leaves centigrade
temp & High
humidity
False smut Flowering Ovaries Periodic Rainfall
and transformed to accompanied
maturity large green by cloudy
masses days
Tungro virus Flowering Stunting of the Periodic Usage of
and plant & yellow more N and
maturity to orange laves more vector
activity
Economic Threshold Levels (ETLs) of Major Pests of Rice
Insect Pest Economic Threshold Level
Stem borer 10% dead hearts or 2 egg masses / m2
2% white ears
Gall midge 10% silver shoots
Green leafhopper 60/25 net sweeps or 5/hill at vegetative stage or
10/hill at flowering or 2/hill in tungro endemic area
Brown plant hopper 2 / tiller when 1 spider / hill is present
1 / tiller when spiders are not present
Whorl maggot 25% damaged leaves
Case worm 10% damaged leaves
Leaf folder 10 % leaf damage in vegetative phase
5% at flowering
Ear head bug 5 bugs/100 ear heads at flowering and 16 bugs/100
ear heads from milky stage to grain maturity
Thrips 60 numbers in 12 passes or rolling of the first and
second leaves in 10% of seedlings.
Biocontrol module for pest and disease management

Pest Biocontrol Rate of application
Yellow stem Trichogramma japonicum 2.00 lakh eggs/ha
borer BT 0.75 kg/ha
Leaf folder Trichogramma japonicum 2.00 lakh eggs/ha
Hoppers Neem 1500 ppm
Sheath blight Trichoderma Seed treatment @ 4-5 g/kg
seed
Leaf spot Pseudomonas Seed treatment @ 4-5 g/kg
seed
Brown spot Trichogramma japonicum 2.00 lakh eggs/ha
Neck blast Nimbecidene + 500 g /acre + 2.00 lakh
Trichogramma japonicum eggs/ha
Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Pulses
(Green gram and Black gram)
Pulses are a part of the average diet. Yet, pulse production has
remained in the range of 14 million tonnes. Pulses are a crop of the marginal
lands, requiring less water and replenishing soil nutrients. Pulses are less
concentrated crops. To increase the productivity proper plant protection
measures to control insect pests is essential.
 Remove and destroy stem fly damaged seedlings
 Pull out plants manifesting symptoms of sterility mosaic, yellow
mosaic, leaf curl and leaf crinkle virus disease since they will serve as
a source of inoculum spread by sucking pests
 Collect eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of the insects to the extent
possible to reduce their population (leaf feeding caterpillars, beetles,
weevils, grasshoppers etc.)
 Burn the crop residues after harvest.
 Sow good and healthy seeds
 In stem fly endemic areas use a higher seed rate to the extent of 25
- 30% to compensate the loss of seedlings
 Maintain the fields and bunds free from weeds
 Avoid crops susceptible to some pests either as mixed crops or in
crop rotation
 Provide T shaped bird perches
 Grow castor along the borders to trap S.litura, marigold to trap
H.armigera and cowpea to trap stem fly.
 The plant density should not exceed 30 - 35 / sq.m. If it exceeds it
creates favourable microclimate suitable for the multiplication of
pests and diseases.
 Spray NSKE (5%) or neem oil (3%) alternatively (aphid, mite,
whitefly)
 Spray specific NPV suspensions of H. armigera and S. litura in the
evening hours
 Set up sex pheromone traps to attract and kill male moths of
Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura. Set up five traps per
acre from floral bud formation and change the septa once in 3 weeks
 Use of light trap to monitor and kill the attracted adult moths of
tobacco cut worm.
Economic Threshold Levels of Major Pests of Pulses
Pest ETL
Aphid 20/2.5 cm shoot length
Pod borer 10% of affected pod
Spotted pod borer 3/plant
Stem fly 10% of affected plants
Tobacco cut worm 8 egg masses/100 m
Some of the diseases of pulses are Sterility mosaic disease,
Alternaria leaf spot, Sterility mosaic disease, Macrophomina blight, Yellow
mosaic virus, Bacterial blight, Cercospora leaf spot, Fusarium wilt,
Phytophthora stem blight, Ascochyta blight, Powdery mildew. These can be
controlled by using disease free seeds and following proper agro techniques.
Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Organic Cotton
Ecosystem
Cotton, the most important fibre crop of India plays a dominant role
in its agrarian and industrial economy. It is the backbone of our textile
industry, accounting for 70% of total fibre consumption in textile sector, and
38% of the country's export, fetching over Rs. 42,000 crores. Area under
cotton cultivation in India (8.9 million ha) is the highest in the world, i.e.,
25% of the world area and employs seven million people for their living.
Cotton productivity in India is quite low as compared to world
standards. The modern cotton production technology relies heavily on the use
of fertilizers and on chemicals to control insect pests, diseases, weeds and
growth regulators. Cotton cultivated on 5% cultivable land consumes 54% of
total pesticides used in Indian agriculture, and in some pockets, the rates are
higher than this, leaving immense ecological and human hazards as reported
by World Health Organization. Use of chemicals at such scale causes a lot of
hazards to man, i.e., environmental pollution, soil health, and agro-ecology
and poor profitability in cotton farming. This has basically prompted the
demand of organically cultivated, eco-friendly or ‘green’ cotton.
 Removal and destruction of crop residues after harvest to avoid the
carry over population of American boll worm to next season.
 Removal of terminals of cotton crop (topping) at 80-90 days of
growth to reduce Helicoverpa oviposition and also to encourage
sympodial branching which bears more fruiting bodies.
 Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts of white fly like
Abutilon indicum, Chrozophore rottlari, Solanum nigrum and Hibiscus
ficulensus from the fields and neighbouring areas and maintaining
field sanitation.
 Collection and destruction of leaves infested with white fly
 Hand picking and burning of the pink boll worm affected and
dropped squares, flowers and fruits and squashing the pink boll
worms in the rosettes.
 Removal and destruction of egg masses, early stage larvae found in
clusters and hand picking and destruction of grown up caterpillars to
minimize heavy build up of future population of tobacco cut worm.
 Uprooting and destroying the weeds like Sida sp., Abutilon indicum
and Xanthium sp. before sowing of cotton crop to reduce the initial
build up of boll worm, whitefly and cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV).
 Rouge the plants infested with CLCV regularly.
 Growing one variety throughout the area as far as possible.
 Deep summer ploughing on bright sunny days during the months of
May or June should be done to expose soil inhabiting or resting
stages of insects, pathogens and nematode population. The field
should be kept exposed to sunlight for at least 2-3 weeks.
 Growing of less preferred crops like green gram, black gram,
soybean, castor, sorghum etc., along with the cotton as intercrop or
border crop or alternate crop to reduce the pest infestation.
 Growing two rows of maize or sorghum or cowpea along the border
to sustain and enhance the build up of natural enemies such as lady
bird beetles, staphylinids, Chrysoperla carnea, Anthocorids,
Reduviids etc. Pollen of maize helps in retaining Chrysoperla in main
cotton field.
 Plant trap crops like marigold or okra or pigeon pea along the
border and irrigation bunds to divert American boll worm oviposition
from main cotton crop.
 Growing castor along the border and irrigation bunds as trap crop
for tobacco cut worm, okra for spotted boll worm and aphid.
 Use neem cake @ 1 t / ha under assured moisture conditions in
nematode infested fields.
 Earthing up on 45th day (stem weevil).
 Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha and 250 kg/ha of neem cake (stem
weevil).
 Install 15-20 bird perches per acre for the benefit of predatory birds
like black drango, king crow, orange myna etc. after 90 days of crop
growth. Provide drinking pots with water to them by placing them
around the perches.
 Application of Helicoverpa armigera or Spodoptera litura nuclear
polyhedrosis virus (NPV) @ 250-500 LE / ha (1 LE = 6x109 POBs) (1
LE / litre of water) depending upon the crop growth with jaggery
and teepol in evening hours at 7th and 12th week after sowing.
 ULV spray of NPV at 3 x 10 12 POB /ha with 10% cotton seed kernel
extract, 10% crude sugar, 0.1% each of Tinopal and Teepol for
effective control of H.armigera.
 Inundative release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma spp., at 6.25
cc/ha at 15 days interval 3 times from 45 DAS (American boll worm)
 Inundative release of egg-larval parasitoid, Chelonus blackburnii and
predator, Chrysoperla carnea at 100000 / ha at 6th, 13th and 14th
weeks after sowing (American boll worm)
 Seed treatment with Trichoderma spp. @ 4g / kg of seed for seed
borne diseases
 Spray NSKE 5% or neem oil (5 ml/l) or fish oil resin soap 25 kg / ha
@ 1 kg in 40 l of water or 5 % notchi leaf extract or 5%
Catharanthus rosea extract (whitefly)
 Spray NSKE 5% or neem oil formulation 0.5% or neem oil 3% thrice
at fortnightly intervals (sucking pests)
 Spray NSKE 5% as a strong oviposition deterrent (American boll
worm)
 Spray fish oil resin soap 25 kg / ha @1 kg in 40 l of water (mealy
bug)
 Use pheromone traps for monitoring American boll worm, pink boll
worm, spotted boll worm and tobacco cut worm. Install pheromone
traps at a distance of 50 m @ 5 traps per acre for each insect pest.
Use specific lures for each insect species and change it after every
15-20 days. Trapped moths should be removed daily. If the number
of trapped adult moths is 10 (American boll worm), 20 (tobacco cut
worm), 15 (spotted boll worm) and 8 (pink boll worm) necessary
action should be taken.
 Installing light traps with incandescent lamp (1-2 / acre) for
monitoring of insect activity (American boll worm and tobacco cut
worm). The crop around the light trap may be sprayed with neem
oil.
 Monitoring the activities of the adult white flies by setting up yellow
pan traps and sticky traps at 1 foot height above the plant canopy.
Locally available empty yellow palmoline tins coated with grease /
Vaseline / castor oil on outer surface may also be used.
 Paint yellow colour on plastic drinking water pot, apply castor oil on
it and move it on both sides with hand by walking in the field to
attract and trap whiteflies.
Note: 1. Use only incandescent light in light traps, as mercury lamp attracts
natural enemies in large numbers.
2. The light trap should be lighted between 8 - 10 pm.
Economic Threshold Levels (ETLs) of Major Pests of Cotton
Insect Pest Economic Threshold Level
American boll worm One egg or one larva /plant
Spotted boll worm 10% infested shoots / squares / bolls
Spiny boll worm 10% infested shoots / squares / bolls
Pink boll worm 10% infested fruiting parts
Tobacco cut worm 8 egg masses/100 m row
Leafhopper 50 nymphs or adults/50 leaves
Whitefly 5-10 nymphs and adults / leaf
Aphid 15% of infested plant
Thrips 50 nymphs or adults/50 leaves
Stem weevil 10% infestation
Mite 10 mites/cm2 leaf area
Cotton Mealy bug - Recent Threat to cotton cultivation
Eco-friendly way
 Raise cowpea as a bund/border crop to encourage the activities of
Natural enemies
 Monitor the crop regularly at least once in a week.
 Look for the ant activity / shiny leaves / yellowing , presence of
sooty mould (advanced stages)
 Look for the predatory coccinellids, Chrysoperla and encourage their
activities and avoid using synthetic insecticides when the natural
enemy activities are more.
 Microbial Bioagents like Beauveria and Verticillium are found to be
effective but takes some time to control the nymphs and adults, but
this method is ecofriendly and sustainable.
 Crawlers (Early stage mealybug nymphs) can be controlled by
spraying neem oil 2% or fish oil rosin soap 25g/l of water (to get
effective control, thorough coverage is essential).
Diseases of Cotton and their management
Disease and cause Control measures
Seedling disease Plant only high quality seed. Plant in
Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Pythium warm, well-drained soil. Avoid crop
spp stress due to a lack of fertilizer,
excess water or excess herbicides.
Plant on raised beds
Boll rots Prolonged periods of high humidity or
water on the boll surface are
necessary for infection. Rank growth
promotes boll rot. Avoid practices
that result in a rank dense canopy.
Bacterial diseases Most varieties have some resistance.
Xanthomonas campestris pv. Crop rotation will control this
malvacearum problem.
Leaf spot These leaf spot diseases are of minor
Alternaria macrospora importance and specific controls are
Cercospora gossypina not recommended.
Ascochyta gossypii They appear more frequently on
stressed plants.
Fusarium wilt Most varieties are somewhat

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. resistant. Maintain soil pH at 6.0 to
vasinfectum 6.5, and use sufficient nutrients for
plant growth.
Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Organic
Vegetable Ecosystem
Vegetables being a rich and cheap source of vitamins and minerals,
occupy an important place in the food basket of Indian consumers. The
country is producing about 98 million tonnes (MT) of vegetables from an area
of around 6.07 million ha. Not withstanding the advantages of vegetables,
farmers confront a number of problems particularly of insect pests, diseases,
nematodes and mites which limit their production. Among the vegetable crops
okra, brinjal, tomato, cabbage and cauliflower are important and together
occupy an area of 1.65 m ha with an annual production of 22.17 MT and they
are infested by several pests at various stages resulting in a yield loss of
about 25-30%. Pest management is thus important with a view to reduce
undesired use of pesticides.
Integrated Pest/Disease Management package for Organic Tomato
Ecosystem
 Collection and destruction of damaged fruits, early instar and
grownup caterpillars of Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura.
 Collection and destruction of virus affected plants.
 Grow simultaneously 45 days old American tall marigold and 25 days
old tomato seedlings @ 1:16 rows so that both will come to
flowering at the same time and Helicoverpa armigera adults will be
attracted to marigold for oviposition.
 Grow 50 castor plants / acre as a trap crop for tobacco cut worm
and the egg masses and early instar larvae in clusters on castor crop
should be periodically collected and destroyed.
 Remove alternate weed host of whitefly, Abutilon indicum.
 Apply press mud @ 5 kg/m2 for nematode disease complex.
 Installation of T shaped bird perches @ 15-20 / ha.
 Deep summer ploughing (tobacco cut worm and nematode).
 Flood irrigation to bring out the hiding larvae (tobacco cut worm).
 Grow sorghum or bajra as border crop (sucking pests and viral
diseases transmitted by them)
 Ploughing the nursery area, uniformly spreading paddy husk @ 20
kg / m2 (about 15 cm thickness) burning it and ploughing back
facilitates production of nematode free seedlings.
 In nursery apply 200 g of neem cake / sq m (nematode).
 Crop rotation with marigold, gingelly, mustard, maize, wheat etc.
(nematode).
 Spray Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2g/l. (H. armigera and S. litura).
 Release Trichogramma chilonis @ 50000/ha/ week (up to 6 weeks)
coinciding with flowering time and based on ETL (H. armigera and S.
litura).
 Application of NPV: For H. armigera: H.a.NPV 250 LE / acre
 For S. litura: S.l. NPV 250LE / acre along with 1 kg jaggery and 100
ml teepol at 10 days interval.
 Treat the seeds with antagonistic fungi, Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg
seed (nematode)
 Spray Neem Seed Kernel Extract 50 g/l (serpentine leaf miner).
 Spray fish oil rosin soap 25 g/l. Add wetting agent (whitefly).
 Set up pheromone traps @ 12/ha (H. armigera and S. litura). When
the trapped moths are 8 / day necessary action may be taken.
 Install yellow sticky traps to attract the adult whiteflies.
Major Insect Pests of Tomatoes
Name Damage Control
Aphid Sucks sap; Vectors Insecticidal soap;
disease; Creates Beneficial insects
honeydew which (ladybugs, lacewings,
attracts sooty mold; etc.); Beauvaria
Misshapen foliage, bassiana; Pyrethrum;
flowers, and fruit Rotenone
Armyworm Feeds on foliage and Beneficial insects; Bt on
fruit larvae; Superior oil
Blister beetle Feeds on foliage and Larvae are beneficial.
fruit For severe infestations,
use pyrethrum,
rotenone, or sabadilla
Colorado potato beetle Feeds on foliage Bt on larvae; Encourage
beneficials; Neem;
Pyrethrum; Rotenone
Cutworm Cuts plant stem Apply parasitic
nematodes to soil;
Wood ashes around
stem; Moist bran mixed
with Bt scattered on soil
Flea beetle Many small holes in Row covers; Sanitation;
foliage Apply parasitic
nematodes to soil;
Neem; Pyrethrum;
Rotenone; Sabadilla
Fruitworm Feeds on foliage, Destroy infested fruit;
flower, fruit Bt; Row covers; Neem;
Ryania
Hornworm Feeds on foliage and Bt; Pyrethrum if severe
fruit
Pinworm Fruit has narrow black Destroy infested fruit;
tunnels Till at season end to
prevent over wintering
Stink bug Deformed fruit with Control weeds near
whitish-yellow spots plants; Trap crops;
Planting late-maturing
varieties; Attract
beneficials by planting
small-flowered plants;
Sabadilla
Whitefly Distorted, yellow Insecticidal soap;
leaves; Honeydew Yellow sticky traps;
which attracts sooty Beneficial insects; Garlic
mold oil; Pyrethrum;
Rotenone; Beauveria
bassiana
Tomato Diseases and their management
Tomato diseases are rarely fatal, if the proper management is
employed. It is important to catch any tomato disease early, before it spreads
to all of tomato plants and possibly other plants in the same family, such as
potatoes, eggplants and peppers. Here are some common tomato diseases
and their management.
Early Blight: Early Blight fungus overwinters in plant residue and is soil-
borne. It can also come in on transplants. Remove affected plants and
thoroughly clean fall garden debris. Wet weather and stressed plants increase
likelihood of attack. Copper sprays can prevent further development of the
fungus.
Gray Leaf Spot: Gray Leaf Spot affects only the leaves of tomatoes, starting
with the oldest leaves. Warm, moist conditions worsen gray leaf spot
problems. Remove all affected plants and fall garden debris. Selection of
resistant varieties prevents the disease infection.
Late Blight: Late blight affects both the leaves and fruit of tomatoes. Late
Blight is the disease responsible for the Irish Potato Famine. The Late Blight
fungus can overwinter in frost free areas. Cool, wet weather encourages the
development of the fungus.
Septoria Leaf Spot: Septoria Leaf Spot is sometimes mistaken for Late
Blight. With septoria leaf spot, the papery patches on the leaves develop tiny,
dark specks inside them. Older leaves are affected first. Copper sprays are
somewhat affective at halting the spread of symptoms.
Verticillium Wilt: This name can be misleading, as sometimes the leaves
will turn yellow, dry up and never appear to wilt. Verticillium wilt is caused by
a soil-borne fungus and it can affect many different vegetables. The fungus
can persist in the soil for many years, so crop rotation and selection of
resistant varieties is crucial. Remove affected plants and choose resistant
varieties.
Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Organic Brinjal
Ecosystem
 Collection and destruction of the beetles, grubs and pupae of
Epilachna beetle.
 Removal and destruction of dried and withered shoots of shoot and
fruit borer to arrest the spread of the pest.
 Remove the affected fruits and destroy (shoot and fruit borer).
 Remove the little leaf affected plants.
 Collection and destruction of aphid infested twigs.
 Removal and destruction of webbed leaves (leaf webber).
 Application of press mud at 5 kg/m2 at the time of sowing.
 Application of 200 kg neem cake / acre as basal (shoot and fruit
borer, nematode and ash weevil).
 Maintain the correct spacing (shoot and fruit borer).
 In nursery apply 200 g of neem cake / sq m (nematode).
 Crop rotation with marigold, gingelly, mustard, maize, wheat etc.
(nematode).
 Deep summer ploughing (nematode).
 Transplant healthy seedlings.
 Avoid rationing of brinjal crop since woody stem is preferred by stem
borer larvae.
 Spray neem oil 3% plus teepol (1 ml/l) or spray neem seed kernel
extract 5 % (whitefly, Epilachna beetle, aphid).
 Spray neem seed kernel extract 5 % or neem oil 3% starting from
one month after planting at 15 days interval (shoot and fruit borer).
 Pour 4% NSKE to soak the severely affected plant’s root system by
making 2-3 inch holes (ash weevil).
 Biological control methods
 Seed treatment with antagonistic fungi viz. Trichoderma harzianum
or T. viride @ 4 g/kg seed (nematode).
 Apply Pseudomonas fluorescens@ 10 g / m2 for nematodes.
st
 Release 1 instar larvae of green lace wing, Chrysoperla carnea @
10,000 per ha (aphid).
 Monitor the whitefly with yellow sticky trap @ 12/ha.
 Installation of pheromone traps (shoot and fruit borer).
Diseases of Brinjal and their management
Alternaria Leaf Spot: Alternaria melongenae, A. solani
Bacterial Wilt: Pseudomonas solanacearum
Cercospora Leaf Spot: Cercospora solani -melongenae, C. solani
Collar Rot: Sclerotium rolfsii
Management
 Pant samrat variety is tolerant.
 Crop rotation with cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower help in
reducing the disease incidence.
 Fields should be kept clean and effected parts are to be collected
and burnt.
 The diseases are more prevalent in the presence of root knot
Nematodes, so control of these nematodes will suppress the disease
spread.
 Seed treatment with 4 g of Trichoderma viride formulation per kg
seed will help in reducing the diseases.
 Collection and destruction of diseased parts and portions of the
plant.
 Spray Copper fungicides to control the diseases
Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Organic Bhendi

Ecosystem
 Collection and destruction of damaged buds and flowers and
distorted fruits (fruit borer).
 Application of neem cake 400 kg/ha at sowing (nematode).
 Spray Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5 % or neem oil (3%) (fruit borer,
leafhopper, mites and whitefly).
 Release of egg parasite, Trichogramma @ 1.0 lakh/ha (fruit borer).
 Release of 1st instar larvae of green lace wing bug, Chrysoperla
carnea @ 10,000/ha (fruit borer).
 Spray Bacillus thuringiensis 2 g/l (fruit borer).
 Set up pheromone trap at 12/ha (fruit borer)
 Installation of yellow sticky traps to trap whitefly adults.
Diseases of bhendi and their management
Cercospora Leaf Spots: Cercospora malayensis C. abelmoschi
Fusarium Wilt Of Okra: Fusarium vasinfectum
Powdery Mildew: Erysiphe cichoracearum and
Vein-Clearing/Yellow Vein Mosaic
Management
 Once the disease becomes destructive, it is advisable to find clean
fields even if such a plan involves renting additional land.
 A better plan is to use a 6-year rotation before the fungus is
destructive; this permit many years of okra growing without too
much loss.
 For sowing during the summer season, when the whitefly activity is
high, the susceptible varieties should be avoided.
 By selecting varieties resistant to yellow vein mosaic like Parbhani
Kranti, Arka Abhay, Arka Anamika, Co3, and Varsha Uphar, the
incidence of the disease can be minimised.
 Even in these varieties, when a plant starts exhibiting symptom of
the disease, it should be pulled out immediately and burnt by which
the spread of the diseases can be prevented.
Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Organic Chilli
Ecosystem
 Collection and destruction of damaged fruits and grownup
caterpillars (fruit borers).
 Collection and destruction of the dropped flowers and fruits (midge).
 Collection and destruction of virus affected plants.
 Raise 2 rows of maize or sorghum for every 5 rows of chilli crop
against wind direction (chilli mosaic).
 Crop rotation with maize, soybean, green gram, black gram etc. (H.
armigera and S. litura).
 Deep summer ploughing (H. armigera, S. litura and root worm).
 Raise 2-3 rows of maize or sorghum as border crop to prevent the
attack of H. armigera and S. litura from surrounding fields and
enhances the activity of lady bird beetle.
 Plant the trap crops for H. armigera (marigold) and S. litura (castor)
@100 plants / acre and periodical destruction of egg masses and
larvae found on trap crops.
 Provision of bird perches @ 15-20 / ha and also provide water pots
around them.
 Application of well composted farm yard manure along with neem
cake (root worm)
 Don’t crop the chilli in the fields where tomato and brinjal were
raised previously.
 Intercrop onion 1 line after 10-12 lines of chilli to enhance the
natural enemy population especially, coccinellids and syrphids.
 Spray neem oil and NSKE (mite, thrips, fruit borers, whitefly).
 If the infestation is severe, spray the botanicals at weekly intervals.
 Spray Bacillus thuringiensis at 2 g/l (fruit borers).
 Apply TNAU formulation of VAM (containing 1 spore/g to control root
knot nematode in nursery).
 When H. armigera is in egg stage, release Trichogramma @ 60000 /
acre two to three times.
 Spray H.a NPV and S.l NPV @ 200 LE / ha + 500 g jaggery + 100 ml
teepol in evening hours.
 Set up pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera
litura at 12 /ha.
 Installation of yellow sticky traps (whitefly).
Diseases of chillies and their management
Stage Factors favouring
Disease Management
Important infection
Damping Seedling Moist soils Partial sterilization of soil
off (nursery) poordrainage 90- by burning trash in the
100% R.H soil surface helps in checking
temperature 20°C the disease
Follow cultural practices
such as thin planting
(600 - 750g seed per
cent) on raised seedbeds.
Use of light textured soils
provides better drainage
and aeration.
Use of well decomposed
manure.
Seed treatment with 4g
Trichoderma viride
formulation
Anthrac- Fruiting Infected seed Use disease free seed.
nose /Die airborne wind - Seed - borne infection is
back /Fruit blown rains controlled by seed
rot treatment
Frog eye Nursery Prolonged period of Crop rotation

leaf spot wetness Use of resistant varieties
Seed and infected
crop residues
Powdery Any stage Warm climate both Crop rotation
mildew of growth dry and humid Use of resistant varieties
in main More leaf shedding
field at low humidity
Fusarium Nursery & High temperatures Use of wilt resistant
wilt mainfield Wet soil conditions varieties
Bacterial Main field Cloudy weather The bacteria are seed -
leaf spot all stages borne and the seeds can
of crop be treated with corrosive
sublimate. It is also soil-
borne and hence crop
rotation is essential
Leaf curl Main field Virus generally Crop rotation
all stage of transmitted by Use of resistant varieties
crop white-fly
Mosaic Main field Virus transmitted by Crop rotation
Viruses at all insect vectors. Use of resistant varieties
stages of (Sucking pest)
crop
Eco-Friendly Methods for Stored Grain/Seed Insect Management

Ever since the advent of stabilized Agriculture, storage of produce
has remained an issue of utmost concern. Unless the problem of storage is
solved satisfactorily the problem of hungry millions may continue even with
substantial increase in production. There are a number of estimates of post
harvest losses. Most conservative estimates for the post harvest losses in food
grains in India even put at about 10%, a quantity good enough to feed at
least 60 million people. Out of the total production, about 70% is retained
and stored by farmers for consumption, as seed, feed and payment of wages
and only about 30% is marketable surplus. Insects are responsible for
enormous spoilage in storage they feed on grain, bore the kernel, and destroy
the germ portion, cause heating and deterioration in stored produce. As per
the Pause committee report, the storage losses due to insect pests of stored
grain are 2.55%. In addition they are also responsible for the qualitative
losses in food grains.
Sources of Infection
 Field infestation, insects fly from stores to fields and lay eggs upon
the maturing grains.
 These eggs hatch out to larvae in favourable conditions when grains
reach the stores. They can crawl/fly to fresh stocks and infest them
is called cross infestation.
 It has been a general practices, specially with farmers, that they
keep without cleaning the empty food grain bags for use in the next
season only.
 Eggs and larvae of insects remain hidden and feed on the grain
fragments in the off season. Whenever the grains are filled up in
such bags, infestation reappears.
 The insects, which may be present in the joints or corners of the
carriers, migrate to the food grain lots and cause infestation.
 The scientific storage of grains helps in minimizing the damage by
insects, and microorganisms.
 The following methods can help in safe storage of grains.
 Preventive measures
 Curative measures
Preventive measures
 Cleaning the storage structures, sealing of cracks, crevices and holes
present in the floors. Cleaning of the Sheller before their use.
 Storage structures/godowns/gunny bags should be disinfected with
approved residual insecticides preferably with Malathion 50% EC,
with dilution 1 : 100.
 Proper stacking of the filled bags for proper hygiene and sanitation
prevents insect damage in the godowns.
Curative measures
The infestation of stored grain insect pests can be minimized by different
methods
Physical control measures
 Heat treatment of stored grain at 55-60°C
 Mixing of inert dusts with grain makes entry of insects a difficult
task. However here grain has to be washed before consumption.
Mechanical measures
 These measures are practicable and include sieving of grains.
Ecological measures
 Temperature, moisture content of grain and availability of oxygen
have to be suitably manipulated by designing and constructing the
storage structures which create unfavourable ecological conditions
for insect attack.
 Food grains kept in airtight sealed structure remain insect free. Eg.
Pusa bin.
 Grains with moisture content less than 10% are not suitable for
multiplication and survival of most of the insects (except Khapra
beetle which can survive but it is susceptible to reduced oxygen
content)
Apart from this TNAU have developed various ecofriendly techniques
for controlling stored products and are given below.
i. TNAU Insect Probe Trap
The use of trap is relatively a new method of

detecting trapping insects in stored grains. The basic
component of a TNAU probe trap consists of three
important parts: A main tube, insect trapping tube and a
detachable cone at the bottom. Equispaced perforations of
2 mm diameter are made in the main tube.
Concept
Insects love “AIR” and move towards air. This behaviour of the
insect is exploited in this technology.
Method of working
The insect trap has to be kept in the grain like rice, wheat etc.,
vertically with the white plastic cone downside as shown the figure. The top
red cap must be with the level of the grain. Insects will move towards air in
the main tube and enter through the hole. Once the insect enters the hole it
falls down into the detachable white cone at the bottom. Then there is no
way to escape and the insects are trapped forever. The white detachable
cone can be unscrewed once in a week and the insects can be destroyed.
Salient Features
No chemicals; No side effects and No maintenance cost.
Significance
 Commercialized during 2002. Around 1, 00,000 units have been sold
so far across the country. The trap has been included for
popularization under Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA) and Mc Gill University Project on "Food Security in South
India" at TNAU, Coimbatore and UAS (University of Agricultural
Sciences), Dharwad during 2003-2007.
 CARE (Co-operative for Assistance and Belief Everywhere)
world's largest independent, non profit, nonsectarian, non
government international relief and development organization with
its internal secretariat at Brussels, Belgium is using the TNAU probe
trap technology under integrated child development services in
Madhya Pradesh.
 Won Best Creative product award from Chamber of Commerce,
South India, 2002.
Recent achievements
 A good response from tribal regions of Adilabad district of Andhra
Pradesh for the trap. Women are purchasing the trap and using
them to control insects in rice / sorghum. They say that the traps are
useful in reducing the drudgery of cleaning their grains through
frequent sieving.
 Recently M/s. TATA Chemicals Ltd., Kolkatta has taken up marketing
of TNAU probe trap, through TATA Kissan Sanchar in Gorakpur area
of Uttar Pradesh after detailed field studies independently by them.
Efficiency
TNAU Insect traps are excellent insect detection devices in food
grains and more effective in the detection of stored grain insects namely
Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Sitophilus cryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum
(Herbst) in stored food grains both in terms of detection as well as
number of insects caught than the standard normal sampling method (by
spear sampling). The detection ratio (trap : normal sample) is higher in trap
than of normal sampling method by factors ranging from 2 : 1 to 31:1. The
insects catch is also higher in the probe trap than the normal sampling
method by factors ranging from 20: 1 to 121: 1.
They are also good mass trapping devices when used at 2 - 3
numbers / 25 kg bin (28 cm dia and 39 cm length). They should be placed at
top 6 inches of the grain, where the insect activity is seen during early period
of storage. They can remove > 80% of the insects within 10 - 20 days.
ii. TNAU Pit Fall Trap
Pitfall traps are used for capturing insects active on grain surface and in other
layers of grain (Monitoring and mass trapping tool).
Standard Model
 Standard model of pitfall trap has 2
parts, perforated lid (2 mm (or) 3
mm) and a cone shaped bottom
portion.
 Application of special coating with
sticky material on the inner side of
cone to hold trapped insects is
necessary
 This procedure is tedious.
TNAU Model
 TNAU model has perforated lid, cone
shaped bottom which tapers into a
funnel shaped trapping tube.
 Hence sticky coating is dispensed
with
 Commercial model is in plastic,
simple and economical.
 Easy to handle.
Significance
 Commercialized very recently and product launched on 18
September 2006 by TNAU and available in food grade plastic
materials.
 Cost is only Rs.25/-
 Around 1000 units have been distributed to KVK's for popularization
of the technology
 Because of easy handling and low cost, there is great scope of this
model to spread fast across the country.
 No such cost effective and durable device is available so far in any
part of the world. Twenty five Rupees investment will be worth to
collect plenty of stored grain insects.
iii. TNAU Two-In-One Model Trap
The probe trap containing the components namely the
perforated tube, pitfall mechanism, a collection tube
and the cone shaped pitfall trap with a perforated lid
and the bottom tapering cone were combined as a
single unit. Combination of probe and pitfall increase
the trapping efficiency of insects. Best suited for pulse
beetles as they are seen only on grain surface
wandering here and there. It does not require tedious
procedures like coating the inner surface of pitfall cone
with sticky materials before trapping to hold pulse
beetles. Beetles are captured alive in this trap, which
may facilitate release of pheromone and there by
attract more insects.
Significance
 Commercialised and commercial launching was held on 30.12.2003.
 Around 100-200 used of farmers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka units
have been dispatched to UAS, Dharwad for popularisation
 This trap technology is one of the promising technologies
commercialised under National Agricultural Technology Project
funded by World Bank (Rainfed eco
system)
 Spreading fast across the country.
iv. Indicator Device
It consists of a cone shaped perforated cup
(3mm perforation) with a lid at the top. The cup
is fixed at the bottom with a container and
circular dish, which are to be smeared with
sticky material like vaseline.
Farmers, before storing their pulses, should take 200 g of pulses to
be stored and put them in the cup. When the field carried over beetles start
emerging, due to their wandering behaviour, they enter the perforations and
get slipped off and fall into the trapping portions. As they stick on to the
sticky materials, farmers can easily locate the beetles and can take out the
bulk-stored pulses for sun drying. The device with 2mm perforations can be
used for cereals. This will help in eliminating the initial population, which acts
as the major source for further build up. Thus, timely detection will help the
farmers to preserve their valuable pulses during storage. The device is being
popularised.
v. TNAU Automatic Insect Removal Bin
TNAU insect removal bin can remove insect
automatically. The structure has 4 major parts
namely outer container, inner perforated container,
collection vessel and the lid. The model exploits
wandering behaviour of stored product insects as
well as the movement of these insects towards well
aerated regions. The grains are held in the specially
designed inner perforated container. The space
between inner and outer container provides good
aeration for the insects. Insects, while wandering,
enter the perforation to reach the aerated part and while doing so, get slipped
off and fall into the collection vessel through a pitfall mechanism provided in
the collection vessel. In order to quickly collect the insects, as and when they
emerge from grains, perforated (2 mm) rods are fixed in the inner container.
The container will be useful for storing rice, wheat, broken pulses,
coriander etc. The insects such as rice weevil, lesser grain borer, red flour
beetle, saw toothed beetle, which are commonly found attacking stored
grains can be removed automatically by storing grains in this container.
Within a very short period of 10 days a majority of the insects (more than 90
per cent) can be removed from the grains. The containers are available in 2
kg, 5 kg, 25 kg, 100 kg and 500 kg capacities.
Efficiency
Grains (paddy and sorghum) stored in Automatic insect removal bin
(100 kg and 500 kg) recorded only 1 - 4% damage by insects compared to 33
to 65% damage in ordinary bin after 10 months of storage. The population of
insects (R. dominica, S. oryzae) ranged from 0 - 2/kg in grain stored in 100
kg Automatic insect removal bin compared to 5 - 191 / kg in ordinary bin after
10 months of storage.
Significance
 The technology was popularised of the Avinashilingam deemed
University through a project from Department Science and
Technology, Government of India.
 Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology sanction Rs.
10,000 during 1998 for popularisation of Gadgets to women folk.
 Suitability for developing countries
No granaries can be filled with grains without insects as the
harvested produce contain, egg (or) larvae (or) pupae in them because of
'field carryover infestation' which cannot be avoided in developing countries
like India (known scientific fact).
So the aim of stored product insect researcher should target on this
field carryover population (which is generally < 1%) which emerge has adults
15 to 20 days after harvest in granaries.
In this field carryover population is not cared then the insect will
multiply and contaminate the food grains and complete damage can even be
expected within 4 months of storage.
Here comes the role of automatic insect removal bin which can
remove substantial number of emerging adults and sometimes free living
larvae also.
Significant achievements have happened in popularization of Automatic
Insect Removal bin Technology.
vi. UV - Light Trap for Grain Storage Godowns
The UV light trap mainly consists of
a ultra-violet source (4 W germicidal
lamps). The lamp produces ultra-
violet rays of peak emission around
250 nano meter. The light is fitted at
the centre of a funnel of 310 mm
diameter at the top and 35 mm
diameter at the bottom. The bottom
end of the funnel is attached with a
transparent plastic container for
collecting the trapped insects. To
hang the unit at desired points,
three hooks have been provided at the periphery of the funnel. The unit is also
provided with a tripod stand.
The UV light trap can be placed in food grain storage godowns at 1.5
m above ground level, preferably in places around warehouse corners, as it
has been observed that the insect tends to move towards these places during
the evening hours. The trap can be operated during the night hours. The light
trap attracts stored product insects of paddy like lesser grain borer,
Rhyzopertha dominica, red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum and saw
toothed beetle, Oryzaephilus surnamensis in large numbers. Psocids which are
of great nuisance in godowns are also attracted in large numbers. Normally 2
numbers of UV light trap per 60 x 20 m (L x B) godown with 5 m height is
suggested.
The trap is ideal for use in godowns meant for long term storage of
grains, whenever infested stocks arrive in godowns and during post
fumigation periods to trap the resistant strains and left over insects to prevent
build up of the pest populations. In godowns of frequent transactions the trap
can be used for monitoring.
Efficiency
It has been found that two traps kept at the corners of the
warehouse (60m x 20m x 5m) can catch around 200 insects/day even from a
godown where normal sampling did not show any insect presence, thus
indicating its effectiveness as a monitoring and mass trapping device. It has
been recorded around 3000 Rhyzopertha dominica on a single day from single
trap kept in a paddy godown.
Significance
National
 The Food Co-operation of India has entered into MOU with TNAU for
popularisation of this trap. Already 25 officers of all has been trained
on this line.
 M/s. Bannari Amman sugars Limited uses the UV light trap
technology under the consultancy project with TNAU for
management of stored grain insects in their godowns.
International
 M/s. Madaus Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd Goa,
(German Firm) has adopted the UV trap
technology to detect/mass trap cigarette
beetle infestation in their export produce,
senna pods/seeds (Casia augustifolia).
 M/s. Saraf Trading Corporation Pvt. Ltd.,
Cochin which exports herbal tea to Europe
uses the UV- light trap technology for
detection/mass trapping of Lasioderma
serricorne.
 In Ayurvedic and Siddha Medicine factories
UV-light trap will be used for detection of
insects in the plant product ingredients
used for medicines.
vii. TNAU Stored Grain Insect Management Kit
Food grains are stored for varying periods to ensure proper and
balanced public distribution throughout the year. Among the biotic and
abiotic factors which affect grains / seeds in storage, insect plays a major role
in the deterioration of grains / seeds causing both qualitative and quantitative
losses. Often the presence of insects in store houses are felt only when they
are hovering and flying around, by which time enormous loss and population
build up of insects might have occurred. Hence, timely detection of the
stored grain insects will help to prevent heavy losses.
TNAU is one of the pioneering institutes in India in the development of detection devices
for stored grain insects. These devices exploit the wandering behaviour of the insects
and help in timely detection of insects in stored produce leading to timely control. These
include TNAU probe trap, TNAU pit fall trap, two in one model trap, indicator device,
Automatic insect removal bin and UV-light trap technology. These devices have been
widely used in many places and have received State and National recognitions.
Hence, the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant
Protection Studies, TNAU, Coimbatore has developed a “KIT” named as
TNAU-Stored Grain Insect Pest Management Kit containing prototypes
of all the devices along with a CD-Rom about the devices and how to use
them. This kit will be of great use in popularization of the technologies across
the country. The kit will be an ideal “hands - on training” tool for Education,
Extension centers (KVK, Plant clinic, save grain centers) and also for private
ware housing. This TNAU kit is the first of its kind in the world.
Significance
 The kit has been commercially launched by TNAU through MOU with
M/s. KSNM Marketing, Coimbatore.
 Good response from Agrl. Colleges, KVK's, PHT's Centers across the
country. So far around one hundred units have been sold by the
firm.
 For the benefit of the students and staff of Agricultural College
and Home Science Colleges of our country the entire information
on above kit is hosted the website under TNAU-Mc-Gill CIDA
Project.
www.agrenv.mcgill.ca/agreng/india/files/pest%20trap
 ICAR - Agricultural Engineering Regional Center (ICAE) at
Coimbatore has taken up TOT of this technology and spreading this
technology through Income generation project.
viii. A Device to Remove Insect Eggs from Stored Pulse Seeds
(Patent No. 198434)
Pulses are more difficult to
store than cereals as these suffer a
great damage during storage by
pulse beetle Callosobruchus sp. The
main source of infestation by pulse
beetle is it’s carry over damage from
field to stores which is well known.
The present invention is a prototype
of a gadget which can successfully
crush the eggs of pulse beetle,
Callosobruchus chinensis and
Callosobruchus maculates which
attack stored pulses. The gadget has
outer container and an inner perforated container with a rotating rod having
fixed with plastic brushes on all sides. The seeds with eggs are to be stored in
the perforated container and the rod has to rotated one full circumference
clockwise and anti-clockwise for 10 minutes 3 times a day (morning, noon
and afternoon). Due to the splashing action of the brush in rotating rod, the
eggs get crushed and thus the damage is prevented. The treatment does not
affect the germination of seeds.
Advantages of the invention
 The device is useful in removing the eggs without affecting the
germination
 Once the eggs are removed there will not be further build up of
population during storage of seeds.
 Removing the eggs laid by the beetles will have a significant impact
in arresting the population builds up in storage.
 Farmers generally fear to store pulse seeds because of the pulse
beetle damage during storage. The device of the present invention
can remove this fear from the farmers mind and thus motivate them
“to have their own seeds”.
 The patent has been recently commercialized.
ix. Trap for monitoring stored product insects in warehouse
(Patent Application No.1733/CHI/2008, dt.24.7.2008)
The invention disclosed in this application relates to a device for
detecting stored grain insects in bagstacks which comprises a main hollow
tube having a diameter in the range of 1.8 to 2.0 cm with equispaced
perforation in the range of 1.8 to 2 mm on its upper portion with a bend at
one end which ends in a transparent collection unit to collect the insects
falling down from the bend, the other end of main tube being closed.
Advantages of the invention

 The device is useful in detecting stored grain insects in bag stacks of
the food grain warehouses without any damage to sacks.
 The device does not require any bait materials to trap insects.
 The device is useful in studying the distribution pattern of stored
product insects in various layers of bag stacks.
 The device will be useful to validate the effect of fumigation by using
it immediately after fumigation, in different layers of the fumigated
stacks.
 The device will also be useful at farm level when farmers store their
produce in bags.
TNAU`s Contribution in Biological Control of Pest and Diseases
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is a highly recognized organization
making great inroads in the field of agrotechnology. Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University’s consistent efforts in contributing to this field involves the efforts
of various agriculture and horticulture experts includes Trichoderma viridi and
Pseudomonas flouroscens
Trichoderma viride
Advantages
 Environmentally Safe
 Economically Cheaper
 Easy to use
 No Residual Toxicity
 No Development of Resistance by Pathogens
 Incraesed multiplication in the soil
 Protect the crops
 Broad spectrum of action
 Enhances plant growth
 Compatible with other Bio fertilizers
 Not harmful to beneficial soil microbes
Recommended Crops
 Black Gram
 Green Gram
 Bengal Gram
 Red Gram
 Groundnut
 Sunflower
 Gingelly
 Cotton
 Chilli
 Tomato
 Turmeric
Dosage:
 4g/Kg of Seed as dry Seed Treatment
 Soil Application: 2.5Kg/ha
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Features of Pseudomonas fluorescens
 Cost Saving
 Improves the growth and Yield of the Crop
 Controls Seed born and Soil born fungal diseases
 Improves the disease resistance power of the crop
 Improves uptake of minerals
 Eco-Friendly
 Saves Earthworm and other Micro organisms in the soil
Recommended Crops:
 Cereal Crops
 Paddy
 Ragi
 Oil Seeds
 Ground Nut
 Gingelly
 Sun Flower
 Cotton
 Pulses
 Vegetable Crops:
 Tomato
 Brinjal
 Chillies
 Bitter Gourds
 Cabbage
 Cauli Flower
 Fruit Crops:
 Banana
 Mango
Dosage
 Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10g / kg to control seed born
Pathogens
 Soil Application: 10 Kg/ha
Do’s and Dont’s in Organic Farming
Do’s in Organic Agriculture
Climate
Appropriate to avoid pests and diseases
Soil Type
To match with the crop cultivated. Ex: Deep well drained soils.
Crops
With inbuilt disease, pest & other biotic resistance.
Acceptability for markets
Quality, yield potential
Adaptability to varying environmental conditions
Climate, soils, crops - Appropriateness and suitability are the key
factors to be considered
Pesticides and organic agriculture
No processed chemical pesticide is approved for use.
Instead of chemical pesticide the following can be used
Botanicals
Neem based products
Pongamia based product
Any botanical with pesticidal property
Biocontrol or biological control agents such as
Bacillus thuringensis (BT) Natural enemies of pests can be used
Adopting natural biocontrol measures such as
Mixed cropping
Trap crops etc.
(Panchakavya, agnihotram,homeo medicines, vrikshayurveda are
also projected as effective
No chemical pesticide is the major requirement for O.A.
Do not use Agrochemicals
Fertilizer
Agrochemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, plant
growth promoters (synthetic hormones) Antibiotics for crop production.
Do not use products like
Antibiotics, pest control chemicals, hormones, disinfectants, urea etc
for Livestock production
Any processed input considered to be a potential environmental
hazard is prohibited
Specific items banned in organic crop production
Sewage, sludge
Genetically engineered crops
Ionizing Radiation for food processing
Chemical preservatives
Land for organic agriculture should NOT have used prohibited
products/ substances for minimum three years.
Banned items in the “Specifics” list should be checked with
standards and certifying agencies as they change from time to time
Thus, organic way of pest and diseases management plays a
significant role in organic farming. The knowledge intensive and farmer based
management approach that encourages natural control of pest populations by
anticipating pest and disease problems and preventing from reaching
economically damage levels will definitely help achieving the target yield
without causing serious damage on environment and contaminating the food.
For Your Thinking
World Food day
Bonn, Germany, October 16th 2007 - On this World Food Day 2007,
with the theme of the Right to Food, which was recognized as a universal
human right in 1948 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, over 850
million people around the world, particularly in least developed countries,
suffer is the right of every person to have regular access to sufficient from
hunger and malnutrition. For IFOAM, the Right to Food nutritionally adequate
and culturally acceptable food for an active, healthy life. It is the right to feed
oneself in dignity and to produce healthy and culturally appropriate food
through ecologically, socially and economically sound methods, defining one’s
own food systems, rather than the right to be fed. This counts for each and
every individual, as well as for communities and regions.
Soil - The Living Dynamic System

Soul Of Infinite Life
Upon this handful of soil our

Abuse it and the soil
survival depends.
will collapse and die
Husband it and it will grow
our food, fuel, our shelter and taking man with it
surround us with beauty
“We need to make our farming practices and our food economy
subject to standards set not by the industrial system but by the
health of ecosystems and human communities”

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Pest and Disease Management: Organic Ecosystem

Pest and Disease Management: Organic Ecosystem

Social justice and Viability, local

Balances social, economic and ecological

Botanicals Light trap

Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of

4. Nithia Kalyani Catharanus rosea Whole plant

Disease Type of compost

Behavioural control methods

Biocontrol module for pest and disease management

Fusarium wilt Most varieties are somewhat

Integrated Pest/Disease Management Package for Organic Bhendi

Frog eye Nursery Prolonged period of Crop rotation

Eco-Friendly Methods for Stored Grain/Seed Insect Management

The use of trap is relatively a new method of

Advantages of the invention

Soil - The Living Dynamic System

Upon this handful of soil our

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